Space is the place once more as Sun Ra Arkestra return to Band on the Wall for another encore. Even at 91 years old, ringleader-in-chief Marshall Allen keeps the late Sun Ra’s flame glowing and this tour marks 60 years since the band’s birth as a tour de force in cosmic surrealism. As a continuing influence on many and follower of none, the band’s musical style can loosely be described as jazz, but shone through a widescreen spectrum of colourful improvisation and unbounded aural exploration. This is freeform music at its most enjoyable and the opportunity to see them performing live won’t be around forever.

Fri 15 Apr, Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ, 7.30pm, £20 adv, www.bandonthewall.org

Fri 15 Apr
Words:
Ian Pennington
Published on:
Thu 14 Apr 2016